Creating a truly fair New Zealand will require transformational change. Until we get there, one charity is encouraging superannuitants to give whatever they can.

New Zealand’s generational divide is well-documented. Over-65s, who benefitted from free education and affordable housing, now receive pensions that are not income or asset-tested. Younger generations rack up debt to gain tertiary education and face unaffordable housing prices, and those in need receive insufficient income and accommodation support.

For much of the older generation, the NZ Super payment is a lifeline – a means to survive when retired. But others have enough income or savings for the additional payments to be superfluous. So what to do with this extra money?

If you’re socially minded like Jim Flewitt and Trisha Mindel, you can donate it. The two Share My Super donors give a significant portion of their pensions to help eliminate child poverty through the charity.

“I just thought, ‘I can spare my pension, or most of it, if it helps children to have better lives’,” says Mindel, 80.

She started donating to Share My Super in April last year, and splits her donation across a number of the organisation’s partner charities, including Women’s Refuge, KidsCan and First Foundation.

The resident of Auckland’s North Shore appreciated seeing what last year’s Share My Super donations went towards: the young person who was given a scholarship and mentoring thanks to First Foundation, and the 3,035 women and children who received safe accommodation, food and personal care items from Women’s Refuge.

Mindel, whose parents immigrated to New Zealand from the UK, believes her social conscience stems from her upbringing and her Jewish heritage. Having been a stay-at-home mum and carer of other family members, she knows the importance of a warm, safe home and healthy food, and is aware that many children do not have these essentials.

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